Alexandra Dursley {Golden Trio}

Chapter 168 - Saviour of the Wizarding World

I loved writing this so much omg :)

Al wandered the lonely path through the forest of Dean, the sun beaming through the freshly sprouting leaves, casting a golden-green glow upon the world. She had a destination, she had been told where to go. It was a secret place, only two others knew the location.

Birds twittered playfully in the trees, singing and calling out to each other, as alive as the forest around them. Two blue tits darted from the branches above her, chasing each other playfully, their harmonious melody echoing in Al's ears. They were alive, in a place of such death.

The trees seemed to rustle and guide her in the early summer breeze, their leaves fragile and dainty, clinging onto the thing that provided them life, and that they provided life to. A beautiful system of give and take, synchronised in every possible way. The perfect form.

The path was clear, but not well trodden. It had the warming smell of dirt, mixed with the fresh odours of the grass and the trees surrounding her. Twigs cracked and snapped under her feet, but still she walked through the haunting arch of the forest, its beauty deceiving her, relaxing her when she had every reason to be afraid. And yet she didn't at the same time.

She finally reached a clearing, looking around for what had been described. And then she saw it. A rectangular mound of earth, now covered in grass shoots, at the foot of a large chestnut tree. There was an engraving in the bark there, and Al walked over to it, tears prickling in her eyes.

Harry James Potter

31st July 1980 - 26th December 1997

Al sighed and let a few tears drip to the dirt underneath her, kneeling at the foot of the grave. "I'm so sorry, Harry," she whispered, although she could have yelled it. There was no one around to hear. She placed nine lilies at her knees. For Lily and James, Remus and Sirius, Fred and George, Dumbledore, Cedric, and for Harry. Really they were all for Harry.

"I miss you so much," she continued, "And I sometimes wish you could be here. You should see Hogwarts - it's almost as good as new. There's a new tower. It's on the sixth floor - near the Ancient Runes corridor. Oh, but you never took Ancient Runes, did you? Well, it's got a room at the top, and loads of these gold plaques with everyone's names on it. The ones that died anyway. Even all the muggle families and the people from the first war. They wanted to put your name at the top, but I told them you wouldn't want that. So you're down with all the 'Ps'. You're right above your Ma and Pa.

"We're having this ball next month when all the repairs are completely done. They want me to make this big speech, but I'm not sure what I'm going to say. I might just talk about you...you wouldn't mind?" Al chuckled through her tears. "Actually I think you would. All that Chosen One stuff must've been horrible for you. D'you know what they're calling me now? 'Saviour of the Wizarding World'! How ridiculous is that?

"Still, I don't think you'd like it here," Al continued, returning to her solemn mood. "There isn't really anyone left. Everyone's been great - Neville and Daphne keep checking up on me, and Molly too. Oh, I wish you could've seen her duelling Bellatrix - it was great! But I suppose you're in a happier place now. Say hello to everyone for me. Make sure Remus and Sirius aren't causing too much trouble up there. And tell your Ma she doesn't actually have to forgive Snape because he was still an arsehole, even if he was a good one.

"I suppose I ought to get going," Al said, "I still need to prepare what I'm going to say in court for Malfoy. They've called me as a witness, see? They want me to talk about everything I knew about him. So seven years of memories to trawl through, should be fun. I just want you to know that I love you very much, and I'll probably be back. No promises when though." And she stood, feeling slightly better, slightly lighter.

*****

"We have heard from the accused. The court now calls Alexandra Rosalind Dursley to the witness stand," Kingsley called. Al stood from the witness bench and made her way to the podium, not meeting Malfoy's pleading eyes as she did. "You are Alexandra Dursley?" he asked pointlessly.

"Yes, sir," Al said, her voice unwavering.

"You have been called to the Ministry today to stand for or against Draco Lucius Malfoy?" Kingsley asked.

Al took a deep breath. "Both, sir." There were whispers of disapproval, and the man to Kingsley's left looked sour.

"Thank you," Kingsley said, "How do you know Mr Malfoy?"

"We were close friends while we attended Hogwarts," Al said, "We've grown apart in recent years."

"How would you describe Mr Malfoy?" Kingsley asked.

"He was very loyal," Al said, "Supportive, caring. But also a coward, and sometimes dismissive of those he did not care about, bullying and tormenting them without my knowledge."

"And how would you argue the case for Mr Malfoy?" Kingsley continued.

"Draco was a very close friend of mine," Al said, "I confided many secrets with him, dangerous ones that could have brought about the victory of Voldemort-" she paused while people shuddered at his name. "He did not pass on these secrets, and we won the Battle of Hogwarts because of it."

"And what were these secrets?" the man to Kingsley's left asked, his eyes narrowed.

"The court recognises Samson Brooks, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Kingsley announced, and nodded for Al to continue.

"That I knew about weapons that Voldemort had, and was working to locate and destroy them," Al said, "And personal secrets about a particular kind of magic I possess, one that Voldemort wanted to master.

"In addition," Al continued before Brooks could interrupt her, "Draco Malfoy was a victim of circumstance. As the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, he was already close to the ideology of the Death Eaters, and upon the return of Voldemort, he was pulled into their ranks after his father's defeat in the Department of Mysteries two years ago. Had he not complied, Voldemort would have murdered both his parents, and then Draco himself."

Kingsley nodded, making notes. "And your argument against?"

"During the Battle of the Department of Mysteries," Al said, and she saw Draco deflate in her peripherals, "Draco Malfoy failed to fight on the side of the Order of the Phoenix. However this was out of fear - he was only fifteen, he should be forgiven.

"Following this he enrolled into the ranks of the Death Eaters, but again this is not any fault of his own. Upon learning of this, Albus Dumbledore instructed me to regain Draco's trust, and offer him protection for him and his family on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix. I offered it to him twice, and he declined on both occasions.

"Last summer, Draco Malfoy masterminded the plan behind Albus Dumbledore's murder, and successfully executed it, allowing no less than six other Death Eaters into the castle where they attacked students and staff alike. This being said, Dumbledore's death was nearing anyway, as he was growing sick as a victim of an old curse. However, Draco did not know this, and his intentions were to defeat Dumbledore."

"Thank you Miss Dursley," Kingsley said, "Finally, are you aware of the side that Mr Malfoy fought on during the Battle of Hogwarts?"

"I am not," Al said coldly. She was dismissed and asked to sit back down. They called Crabbe and Goyle next, both of whom were flanked by Aurors. Then there was Daphne, Theo and McGonagall. Greyback, and a couple of other surviving Death Eaters came too. And then it was over.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," Brooks said, "The court will now reach its decision. All those who are in favour of clearing the accused of all charges against him?" Six people raised their hands, and Al heard Draco whimper. "Those in favour of conviction?" The remaining fifty people raised their hands, Kingsley and Brooks included.

Kingsley swallowed, standing up and shuffling his papers. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, you have been charged with consorting with Voldemort, and the Death Eater organisation. However, the court recognises your exceptional circumstances, and will take that into account. Furthermore, the crimes committed were few in number compared to your associates. I sentence you to six years imprisonment in Azkaban." The hammer fell, and tears poured from Draco's tired-looking eyes as three Aurors pulled him from his chair and carried him out the room.